(a) whether green areas in the cities has declined from 68% to 25% since 1973 due to continuous increase in constructed area;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to increase green area in the cities; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) & (b) There is no specific data available to establish decline in the green areas in cities. However, as per the study Urban Greening Guidelines, the per capita availability of green space may decline due to increase in urban population. The city wise details are given in Annexure-I. As per available data, the per capita green space shows decline in most of the cities including Chennai, Bhopal, Noida, Greater Noida, Jaipur, Bhopal etc.
(c) & (d) The development and maintenance of green cover in urban areas including the protection of trees mostly is within the purview of Urban local Bodies and Urban Development Authorities. These authorities make regular efforts to plant trees to enhance the green cover including through tree plantation drives involving the local people.
The Green India Mission implemented by the Ministry, includes a sub-mission to enhance tree cover in 0.20 million hectare of Urban and Peri-Urban areas, including institutional lands. This includes support for urban greening on various categories of land including open spaces/green spaces like parks/wood lots, avenues and in households and Institutional lands belonging/allotted to business/industrial houses and educational institutions, etc. through afforestation.
Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implements an urban forestry scheme namely “Nagar Van-Udyan Yojana” on pilot basis to create 200 City Forests in the country in next five (5) years.
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) implemented by Ministry of Urban Development has also inter-alia objective of increasing the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks). The details of funds earmarked for city parks under AMRUT are at Annexure-II.
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